These past few days, Fourth Master has been troubled by the Xiongnu's unpredictable verbal battles. It turns out that the strategy Hongshi discussed with Jilu that day was to use verbal battles to lure them into an ambush.
Shen Hebi and the Fourth Prince discussed this matter in the military camp. "Your Majesty, the Xiongnu send people to provoke us every day, but after we send troops out, they start to run away after fighting for a while. We don't know what they want to do."
The Fourth Prince frowned deeply. If this continued, the soldiers' energy would be waning, and they might become weary of war! "Your Majesty, should we send troops to pursue them?"
Seventeenth Master sternly stopped him, "Absolutely not! They must have a trap. If we chase after them and fall into their ambush, we're finished."
Shen Hebi had considered this point, but the grain that the emperor brought from the capital was being used up day by day, and they came to challenge them every day. The soldiers were not getting enough rest. If this continued, if they really came to fight, he might not be able to defeat them!
"Seventeenth Master, I know what you're saying, but they come here every day to hurl insults at us, putting us at a disadvantage. If this continues, things will only get worse!"
At this moment, the Fourth Prince spoke up, "General Shen, I hereby send you to select a few skilled generals to lead 20,000 troops to meet the enemy." The Fourth Prince knew that the Qing army was no longer the Eight Banners of the past, and now that winter was approaching, further delay would only be more disadvantageous to the soldiers.
"Your Majesty, this is absolutely not allowed! The Xiongnu have invaded many times, and when we meet them, they refuse to fight. There must be a trap waiting for us ahead!" The Seventeenth Prince knelt on the ground. They had already lost nearly half of their troops. If they were to lose another 20,000 soldiers, the consequences would be unimaginable.
"Seventeenth Master, please stop obstructing us. We have no other choice but to take this path! We have no other option but to do so!" Shen Hebi advised.
When the Seventeenth Prince saw that the Fourth Prince, sitting in the high seat, remained silent, he knew that the Emperor had made up his mind, so he stopped trying to stop him.
Shen Hebi went down to arrange related matters, leaving behind the Fourth Master and the Seventeenth Master.
"Seventeenth Prince, do you remember when I first became Emperor, there were constant wars, and many times we were in situations like this, forced to passively respond to the enemy?" the Fourth Prince asked.
Thinking of the past, Seventeen's eyes filled with a smile. "Yes, my brother used to love fighting on the battlefield. He felt that only then could he be a real man, a true emperor who would contribute to the country!" Seventeen always remembered his brother telling him that a true man is not one who doesn't go to the battlefield.
The Fourth Prince laughed along, "I remember once when you and I were in Tibet, it was in a similar situation, or even worse, but we managed to escape danger and eventually fought a great battle against Tibet."
Seventeenth Master thought that although Fourth Master was young at that time, his courage and boldness were beyond the reach of ordinary people. On that occasion, when they were attacked from both sides and their soldiers were on the verge of death, they still managed to escape successfully and, together with the reinforcements, captured them in one fell swoop.
"Thinking back to that time now, I still feel a surge of fighting spirit!" It was indeed exhilarating back then; fighting on the battlefield was something I had always longed for. But now... it's truly a bit miserable.
"Seventeenth Brother, do you believe that your elder brother can still lead you through this crisis and defeat the Xiongnu?" Seventeenth Brother looked at Fourth Prince with firm eyes, "Your subject has never doubted it!"
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